The best Pennsylvania state parks to enjoy in the winter
This winter, embrace how Pennsylvania state parks transform into snowy playgrounds for skiing, sledding, hiking, and more.
It can be difficult to say goodbye to warm weather when the snow, ice, and chill hit Pennsylvania in winter. But instead of waiting for winter to end, you could embrace the season and the wintery fun it has to offer. Look no further than our own Pennsylvania state parks, which offer all sorts of winter outdoor activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, winter hikes, and more!
We’ve profiled eight of the best Pennsylvania state parks for winter outdoor adventures. Once you see the beauty of nature in winter, you might even feel bittersweet when the snow melts!
1. Laurel Mountain State Park – Rector
Laurel Mountain State Park in Westmoreland County is home to a ski area operated by Seven Springs Mountain Resort, a large ski resort nearby. Laurel Mountain’s small ski area features the highest vertical drop on the state’s Laurel Ridge (761 feet) and a steep slope known as the Lower Wildcat, which is a double-diamond trail. Laurel Mountain also offers both private and group skiing and snowboarding lessons for children and adults.
2. Ricketts Glen State Park – Benton
In the summer, northeastern Pa.’s Ricketts Glen State Park attracts visitors chasing the 21 waterfalls of the Falls Trail System that runs through the park’s Glens Natural Area. But in winter, experienced winter adventurers can still experience the waterfalls—when frozen solid, they’re excellent for ice climbing. When the weather is ideal (read: icy), outdoor tour operator Valley to Summit hosts guided winter waterfall hikes, providing all the gear you’ll need: an ice axe, a helmet, a harness, and crampons.
3. Prince Gallitzin State Park – Patton
Cambria County’s Prince Gallitzin State Park sits on the Allegheny Plateau near Altoona, and the forested state park is home to a bevy of recreational opportunities—especially in winter. Throughout the winter, the park is home to two sledding hills and an ice skating rink. You can also take advantage of the park’s 32 miles of trails for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. To get a taste for all you can do in winter, you can join the Friends of Prince Gallitzin State Park on February 8, 2025, for Winter Blast, an event that will showcase and help beginners try out winter activities. Planned exhibits will discuss ice fishing, snowmobiling, geocaching, and more. The park will also loan out snowshoes and cross-country skis.
4. Presque Isle State Park – Erie
While Presque Isle State Park is best known as a beach destination for summer fun, don’t sleep on the park in the coldest season. Indeed, winter at the park is quiet and still, allowing a new appreciation for the peninsula’s trails—now snow-covered—and the views of icy Lake Erie. Presque Isle is also a stop for some migrating birds, including the snowy owl. Visit the observation deck to view Gull Point, where you may see snowy owls that have traveled south from the Arctic Circle.
5. Laurel Ridge State Park – Rockwood
The Laurel Highlands area has the highest level of snowfall in the state, on average. It’s no surprise then that Laurel Ridge State Park is one of the best Pennsylvania state parks for cross-country skiing. While most state parks have trails where you can cross-country ski, and some even have groomed trails for cross-country skiing, Laurel Ridge State Park has groomed ski trails as well as cross-country ski rentals available for those who don’t have their own gear. With the purchase of a trail pass, you can ski more than 20 miles of trails groomed for both classic and freestyle (also called skate) skiing. You can also snowshoe in the park on trails such as the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail—and snowshoe rentals are also available!
6. Black Moshannon State Park – Philipsburg
Centre County’s Black Moshannon State Park becomes a winter wonderland when snow falls, which is the ideal time for park visitors to enjoy winter hiking, snowshoeing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing. The park even operates a winter gear loaner program through which you can borrow equipment—including skis, skates, snowshoes, and ice fishing gear—for free. On January 25, 2025, you can visit the park for a winter celebration featuring ice mini golf, ice bowling, curling, guided winter hikes, and more!
7. Beltzville State Park – Lehighton
Nestled in the southern foothills of the Pocono Mountains, Beltzville State Park in Carbon County is a water lover’s dream in the summer, with boating and fishing opportunities galore. But that doesn’t change in the winter: You can also try your hand at ice fishing when the lake freezes over and even take an iceboat to the water (or more likely, watch other people who own iceboats take them to the water). The 949-acre manmade lake, Beltzville Lake, is stocked with coldwater game fish and panfish. The park doesn’t monitor ice thickness, so only venture out when the ice is at least four inches thick for a single person or seven inches thick for a small group.
8. French Creek State Park – Elverson
French Creek State Park, located in Chester and Berks Counties and not far from Philadelphia, is a beautiful park no matter the season. In winter, it’s an excellent place to go for a winter camping (or glamping) experience near the city. The campground is open between March and the first weekend in January, and if you want to stay overnight during the coldest months, you can book one of ten furnished, modern cabins complete with heat and private toilets. For outdoor fun, you can ice skate, cross-country ski, and sled in the park when conditions allow, and you can always enjoy a lovely hike on more than 35 miles of trails.
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